Tax refunds

A tax refund or tax rebate is the money that you get back from HRMC if you paid too much in tax. By law, if you're travelling to temporary workplaces and paying to make your own way there, you could get a tax refund. On average, a 4-year tax refund claimed through RIFT amounts to £2,500 or £2,000 per year for people in the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS).

Tax returns

A tax return is how a taxpayer lets HMRC know their annual income, expenses and other personal circumstances. HMRC use it to calculate the tax you owe and claim tax allowances and tax reliefs you're entitled to. There are many reasons you may have to file a tax return, it's not just for the self-employed.

Advice

We’ve been helping people with the taxman since 1999. Our specialist teams work closely with HMRC to put the cash back in your pocket where it belongs. You can be sure that we know the rules inside out. Get in touch if you need help, it's what we're here for.

Our prices

We make our prices as simple as possible so that you don't find yourself with any unexpected bills for "hidden extras". All aftercare is included and any refund you get is covered by our RIFT Guarantee. There are no upfront charges. We'll handle everything with HMRC for you and even remind you when it's time to claim again next year.

About us

The RIFT Group is a family business based in Kent, founded by Jan Post in 1999. We're specialists in tax refunds and tax returns and we're the only company in our field to have been awarded the Institute of Customer Service "ServiceMark" for excellence in customer service. Get in touch to see how we can help you today.

What are the MOD rules for tax refunds?​

Armed Forces or MOD personnel can claim tax back on travel expenses on temporary postings of under 24 months, even outside the UK. Using either your own vehicle or public transport counts.

You canclaim any overpaid tax for the last 4 years, and the RIFT average 4 year rebate is£2,500.

MOD Tax Refunds

Some people in the Armed Forces have said we're not allowed to make a claim. Is that true?

No, it's definitely not true and we fought hard to get it cleared up with the MOD and the HMRC. You can get a tax refund for travel and DIN '2015DIN01-005' was issued to all service personnel to officially confirm this.

Most of the confusion arose from different interpretations of a 'temporary posting' at HMRC and the MOD. Also some people thought that claiming a tax refund as well as HDT was against MOD rules. Others were worried that they might have to pay the refund back later, or lose their HDT tax exemptions.

"I claimed after leaving the Army and am claiming again in my new job."

“I left the Army in October 2013 but luckily I heard about RIFT before then, a colleague told me I might be able to claim. I phoned up just after New Year in 2014. The process was so quick and easy, I had my money at the end of March.

First thing I did was to book a holiday to Ibiza, but I got enough money to pay off a bit of a loan and it helped me move into a new flat too.”

Can I claim again in the next tax year?

Yes, absolutely - and you really should! If you’re still in the Forces next year, there's a good chance you could claim again for the same expenses. If you claimed last year but haven’t claimed this year yet, you could claim again now. Take a look at our repeat claims page to find out more.

You can claim for the 4 previous years, even if you've left the Armed Forces. If you have left the Armed Forces and are in a new job that involves travel to temporary workplaces we can sort out your tax refund in the same way for that. If you've become self employed we can handle your self asssessment tax return for you, including any refunds that might be due as a result of it.

Can I claim the mileage incurred while I was training?

Possibly. It depends on what kind of training you're doing. HMRC's pretty strict about what counts for refunds when you're training. If it was a vital part of your duties, then we might be able to claim for the travelling expense.

I receive Get You Home (GYH) and/or Home To Duty (HDT) travel expenses, can I still claim?

Probably, yes. What you're getting is usually less than what you're entitled to. HDT and GYH allowances are paid untaxed, so we deduct them from any claim we make.

For example, you can get a tax rebate on 24p per mile for HDT mileage. That's basically the difference between the HMRC rate of 45p per mile* and the MOD's 21p per mile tax exempt allowance. You have to be on temporary duty to get this. It's part of the taxman's legislation, rather than MOD policy. Ask RIFT about your situation if you're confused.

Can I claim if I've been at my base for more than 24 months?

HMRC says that postings of more than 24 months are 'permanent'. Unfortunately, that means the rules for temporary workplaces don't apply. However we'd look at your cases carefully here. If you'd be expecting your posting to be shorter when it was first issued it may change things.

Can I claim a tax refund for any travel costs incurred whilst I was training?

It will depend on the type of training. HMRC has strict rules about what is classed as an allowable expense around training. If it was an essential part of your contractual duties of employment then we might be able to claim for the travelling expenses. You will need to have completed your phase one training to make a claim. Even if you are not due a refund this year, remember that you can claim for the past 4 tax years so use our tax calculator to find out if you are owed anything.